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1797 - Bourbon Co., Artful George's departure
A reward of five dollars was offered by Bourbon County enslaver Henry Talbert after the mid-August escape of George in 1797. George's age was not given, but he was describes as being about 5'5" tall and was an "artful fellow" who may have had a pass. Talbert's property was near Ruddell's Mill.
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1802- Scott Co., Escape of a skilled worker
In November, 1802, Georgetown enslaver Elijah Craig offered a $30 reward for the return of 22-yr-old James. James was a papermaker and was "frequently mistaken for a white man." A post note on the advertisement explains that Craig "raised him from his infancy" and that his intention was to free James at age 31, but the loss was affecting his paper business.
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1808 - Scott Co., Freedom seeker goes unnamed
Georgetown area enslaver Thomas Duley offered a $15 reward for the return of an unnamed 18-yr-old young man who was described as having a "bright complexion, rather long hair" and was well-dressed in striped velvet overalls and a swansdown waistcoat, carrying a yellow flowered silk handkerchief.
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1806 - Scott Co., Peter evades capture, with a little help
In late January,1806, enslaver Bartlet Collins of Scott County offered a reward of $5 for the return of Peter, who he had recently purchased from the estate of Thomas Montague of Frankfort. It was suspected that Montague's widow, Agnes was "harboring" Peter and lending him support. Collins threatened consequences would be brought against Agnes. A later addendum to the ad states Peter ha been spotted near David's Fork Meeting House in Lexington.
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1799 - Scott Co., Cato's departure
Scott County enslaver Rodes Smith placed an ad offering an "ample reward" for the return of Cato, a 25-yr-old man described as thin, with a "Yellow complexion." It was suspected that he would be near "Mr. Craig's" at Georgetown, with whom he had lived for 5-6 years. Formerly he was held by Thomas Woolfolk.
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1797 - Scott Co., A sensible family escapes
On April 2nd, 1797, freedom seeker Charles escaped the farm of Benjamin Johnson of Scott County with a woman named Milley and her six-month-old daughter. Both Charles and Milley were described as "sensible." Johnson offered a thirty dollar reward for their return, warning "all persons from harboring them" or "conveying them from the state."
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1795 - Scott Co., Esau rides to freedom
On July 2nd, 1795, 25-yr-old freedom seeker Esau mounted up on a small, bay, one-eyed mare belonging to his enslaver, David Telford, who lived near Georgetown. Esau rode the horse toward freedom, taking with him only a few pieces of clothing, shoved into a bag monogrammed with "D. T." Five dollars was offered for Esaus' return.
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1793 - Scott Co., Storytelling Jeffrey
In December, 1793, 21-yr-old Jeffrey fled enslaver Thomas Dinwiddie's property near Johnson's Mill in Scott County. Jeffrey was of a "high yellow" complexion and had a large birthmark on the back of his shoulders . Dinwiddie cautioned that Jeffrey was "artful" and a talented storyteller. Two dollars plus expenses was offered for his return.
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1822 - Scott Co., A springtime escape
On Saturday, May 4th, 1822, John, a freedom seeker of about 20 years old escaped enslaver William Johnson, who lived near Great Crossing, Scott County. John was a slender young man with a small build and had a scar near his upper lip and one on his jaw. A reward of up to $100 was offered for his return.
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1821 - Scott Co., Duke makes his exit
In 1821, Scott County enslaver Ezekiel Scott placed an ad offering a $100 reward for the return of 26-yr-old Duke, who was also known as "Doctor." A detailed description included the following: Duke was missing his second toe on one of his feet and had "double the number of jaw teeth than usual."
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1806 - Scott Co., Phill's second escape
In 1806, Phill made his second escape from Scott County enslaver William Sutton. A reward of $100 was offered for his return. This reward was ten times higher than was offered for his return after his 1799 escape. Though his surname "Burley" was not mentioned in this later escape ad, his description is nearly identical.
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1799 - Scott Co., Independence Day escape
On July 4, 1799, Independence Day freedom seekers Phill Burley and Major, who also went by James or Peter Robinson, escaped from Scott County, where they were held by enslavers William and John Sutton Jr., respectively. A $20 reward plus expenses was offered for the return of the pair.
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1817 - Scott Co., Soft-spoken George
In May of 1817, Scott County enslaver Robert W. Magruder placed an ad offering $50 for the return of 32-yr-old George. George was about 5'11" tall, with whiskers, a square jaw, straight hair and a soft speaking voice. George was expected to attempt to reach Ohio.
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1799 - Scott Co., The disappearance of Bob
In September, 1799, Georgetown-area enslaver Thomas Barlow placed an ad offering a reward of $20 for the return of Bob. The freedom seeker was described as about twenty-two years old, "straight-made" with pierced ears and white teeth.
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1819 - Scott Co., Levy takes his leave
A young freedom seeker named Levy escaped Scott County enslaver Jacob Aulass just after Christmas, 1819. Levy had been purchased in Maryland four years prior. Aulass offered a reward of $10 plus expenses for his return.
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1811 -Scott Co., Roots and Alice take flight
On July 8th, 1811, 44-year-old Alice and 25-year-old Roots escaped Georgetown enslaver John H. Jones. Rewards up to $50 for the return of Roots and up to $20 for the return of Alice were offered.
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1809 - Scott Co., Escape of Ned the Fifer
Twenty year old Ned, described as about 5'9" tall departed the property of enslaver John Masterson, near Georgetown on Sunday, July 23, 1809. It was noted that Ned had a talent for playing the fife. A $15 reward was offered for his return.
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1796 - Scott Co., Creasa self-emancipates
At the end of February, 1796, 35-year-old Creasa escaped Georgetown enslaver Thomas Mosby. Creasa was described as slender, with a yellow complexion and a coarse voice. A reward for $10 was offered for her return.
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1796 - Scott Co., the escape of "Smiling Moses"
In July, 1796, Scott County enslaver John Rhodes offered a $10 reward for the return of Moses, who had escaped from Rhodes' property on McConnell's Run. Moses was described as a "fellow of smiling countenance," twenty years old with a dark complexion and was well dressed in clothing that was "chiefly stolen."
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1823 - Scott Co., Charles steals away
Freedom seeker Charles, about 43-years-old, escaped from Scott County enslaver Thomas Dinwiddie in April, 1823. Charles was described as about six feet tall and stout, walked with a limp associated with hip pain. A reward of up to $50 was offered for his return.
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1819 - Scott Co., Escape of John
On January 24, 1819, a freedom seeker named John escaped from Scott county enslaver John Downing. He was described as "about 30 years old" at the time of his escape. A $10 reward was offered and may have been collected. On June 25th, 1854, an enslaved man named John, held by John Downing in Scott County, died of cholera. He was about 60 yrs. old at the time of his death; it's plausible this is the same John.
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1863 - Scott Co., No Emancipation for Bill
On July 8th, 1863, 30-yr-old Bill was captured as a runaway in Garrard County and placed in the jail. Bill named Joseph Kenney of Scott County as the man who enslaved him. Though the Emancipation Proclamation had been issued months prior, it did not apply to states that remained in the Union, like Kentucky. Were Bill unclaimed, he would be eventually be sold by the jailer.
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1807 - Boyd Co., A Christmas escape
In 1808, Scott County enslaver James Suggett offered a $50 reward for the return of 40-year-old Jim (or James.) Jim was described as "a likely fellow, inclinable to traffic and trade, subject to drink to excess" It was mentioned that, if drunk, he sometimes referred to himself as "Locust." Jim escaped while hired out to "Col. Johnson" near the mouth of the Little Sandy river, in Boyd County, at Christmas, 1807.
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1811 - Scott Co., A prepared freedom seeker
George, a twenty six year old freedom seeker, escaped Scott County enslaver John Hicks on November 4, 1811. Hicks' property was near Calhoun's Mill. It was noted that George left prepared for the cold, taking two "three point blankets" (woolen wraps common to northern Native American tribes.) A reward of up to $20 was offered for George's return.
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1812 - Scott Co., A persistent enslaver
Enslaver John Hall placed a long-running reward ad for the return Austin, who had escaped Hall's property near Georgetown in July, 1810. Auston's age was not given, but he was described as "about 6 feet high and stout and strong made." The unusually high $100 reward was still being offered 18 months after the escape.